NORFOLK, Neb. – The Northeast Community College baseball team was back at home Friday at Norfolk Veterans Memorial Baseball Field for the beginning of a blockbuster series with No. 9 Kirkwood Community College. The Hawks split the afternoon, dropping Game 1 by a final score of 3-0 before taking Game 2 by a final score of 7-4.
Northeast (20-12, 7-2 ICCAC) starting pitcher Gabe Rodriguez (Thornton, Colo.) was exceptional on the mound for the Hawks in Game 1 as the sophomore tossed 6.1 innings and struck out 11 Eagles batters. Rodriguez has now recorded 41 strikeouts this season and has been a starter that Northeast has been able to lean on throughout the year. Grayson Headrick (Littleton, Colo.) was two-for-two in the first contest of the day with a double and a walk.
Game 2 saw the starting pitcher for Northeast have another great outing as Oliver Ward (Mill Creek, Wash.) went five innings without allowing an earned run while striking out four batters. Nick Miszuk (Parker, Colo.) was excellent in relief for the Hawks as he went 3.2 innings without allowing an earned run as well to keep Northeast within striking distance in the showdown. The Hawks entered the eighth inning down 4-2 on the scoreboard, but a furious comeback including a five run eighth inning was enough to secure a victory.
STAT SHEET GAME 1:
Grayson Headrick (Littleton, Neb.): 2-2, 2B, BB
Ian Shaw (Ogallala, Neb.): 1-3
Gabe Rodriguez (Thornton, Colo.): 6.1 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 11 K
STAT SHEET GAME 2:
Rusty Wortman (Gretna, Neb.): 1-3, HR, R, 2 RBI
Cade Grevengoed (West Des Moines, Iowa): 2-3, R, RBI, BB
Nick Miszuk (Parker, Colo.): 3.2 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 5 K
HEAR FROM THE HAWKS COACH:
Head Baseball Coach Marcus Clapp on his pitchers today and the split with the Eagles:
“I thought Gabe Rodriguez threw really today,” Clapp said. “He had everything working. Punched out 11. Just unfortunate that we couldn’t get anything going offensively for him. I thought we pitched really well today. Nick Miszuk threw really well and shut them down for four innings for us to get back into it. We really didn’t do much offensively today, but we kept battling. Anytime you can split the day we are going to take it, especially against a good team.”
Clapp on the rubber match Saturday:
“It’s going to be like today,” Clapp said. “The wind is going to be blowing in and it’s going to be cold. Trying to keep the ball on the ground and having a good approach. Not giving away free bases. We have to come out and be better offensively for sure, but we have a chance to win a series tomorrow.”
UP NEXT:
The Hawks will conclude their series with No. 9 Kirkwood Community College in a single game at 1 p.m. Saturday at Norfolk Veterans Memorial Field in Norfolk.
